Page 21 of Veil of Shadows

I laughed softly. “It’s a bit late for that now. I know too much.”

He sighed heavily, so heavily that I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something deeper going on regarding his concern for me. “I know. Trust me, I know.”

“What’s done is done, Jax. I’ll always know that you’re the Dark Raider, and now I also know about your secret brother. Why not let me help you since I can? Keeping me here doesn’t benefit either of us.”

His eyes glowed slightly as an unreadable expression covered his face. “You truly want to join us and help me find him?”

“I do, and I have an advantage, considering what I am.”

His nostrils flared. “Iwon’tsee you put in that position again.” The absolute steel in his voice made my stomach flip, and the storm in his eyes grew, but a moment of pain filled them too.“Elowen, I’m so sorry. I never meant to compromise everything in your life.”

“I know, but it’s not like returning to Emerson Estate with Guardian Alleron would be any better, even if that was an option.” I pointed at my collar. “If this is to stay on me forever, my freedom will always be restricted to some extent, so I might as well do something useful and good, and if I can’t leave to forge my own life because of my collar and what I now know...” I shrugged. “I’m trying to find the best path forward from here, and helping you seems like that option.”

“Elowen . . .”

“No.” I raised a hand. “Don’t feel sorry for me, Jax. I’m a lorafin, just like Bastian is a half-breed. We’ll never be treated like other siltenites. Perhaps, this is the best I can hope for, and the last thing I want is anyone’s pity.”

Magic vibrated off him. “I’d so love to find whoever created that collar for you and send them to the afterlife.” His attention dropped to the gem at my throat.

A shiver ran through me. The ruthlessness of the Dark Raider was commanding his expression once more.

Trying to make light of it, I replied flippantly, “Good luck, since apparently Guardian Alleron doesn’t even know who the fairy is.” Self-consciously, I traced my fingers along the confining piece of jewelry. Power pulsed from the gem, but it didn’t zap me, not like it used to.

Jax’s brow furrowed. “My brother is caged like you, not by magic, but by birth. He’s never been able to live a normal,freelife either, thanks to what he is.”

An aching feeling overtook me, so much so that I placed a hand on my stomach when my magic tried to rise. “I know. Saramel told me about that too, about how his mother fled with him, and how your father had wanted him executed, and how it was only by chance that you found him.”

His lips twitched in a sardonic smile. “Is there anything Sarameldidn’ttell you?”

I bit my cheek to keep from smiling. “I still don’t know where your nickname comes from.”

He smirked. “I’m sure she’ll happily tell you if you ask.”

I laughed, unable to help it. His smile stayed, and given his lightening mood, I said again, “Please, take me with you.”

“Do you know what you’re asking? You’ll have to play the part, pretend like we’re only there for fun.”

“I can do that.”

“And you’ll have to learn our ways, call us by our actual names. You can no longer refer to me as Jax.”

“Of course, Prince Adarian.” I bowed mockingly.

His lips twitched again, and for the briefest moment, a tender look stole over his face. “You really want to do this?”

“I do.

“All right. If it’s what you wish.”

A moment of carefreeness hit my heart. “Is there anything I need to do to prepare?”

“Not really. Pack whatever you like, but no need to bring your pile of rulibs. You can keep those safely here.”

“All right, packing won’t take long since I don’t have much.”

A fleeting emotion stole over his face. “No, you don’t have much, but you deserve so much more, Elowen.” Before I could respond, he stepped back. “It’s late. We should both turn in, but I’ll come for you in the morning. Until then, good night.”

I watched him leave, and when the door shut behind him, the magical bolt sliding into place, that sound didn’t depress me because a new sense of purpose filled me. A purpose that I truly wanted to fulfill.

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